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10: Pacquiao’s most-pivotal fights

Fighters Network
26
Apr

A weekly boxing list compiled by Michael Rosenthal. This week: The 10 most-pivotal fights in the career of Manny Pacquiao, who faces Ricky Hatton on Saturday in Las Vegas on pay-per-view television.

1. Oscar De La Hoya (2008, Las Vegas): Supplants De La Hoya as the sport’s biggest star with stunning knockout.
2. Lehlohonolo Ledwaba (2001, Las Vegas): It all started in the U.S. with his shocking upset for a then-rising star.
3. Erik Morales II (2005, Las Vegas): Rebounds from his only loss since 1999 with an impressive 10th-round knockout.
4. Marco Antonio Barrea I (2003, San Antonio): First victory (11th-round KO) over a true star in the sport.
5. Juan Manuel Marquez II (2008, Las Vegas): Comes out on top in rematch with No. 2 fighter in the world pound for pound.
6. Erik Morales I (2005, Las Vegas): Only defeat with trainer Freddie Roach resulted in a more-closed, more-effective camp.
7. Juan Manuel Marquez I (2004, Las Vegas: Puts Marquez down three times in the opening round but is outboxed the rest of the way.
8. Erik Morales III (2006, Las Vegas): Morales fought once more but was all but finished after this third-round KO.
9. Chatchai Sasakul (1998, Thailand): Wins his first major title (WBC flyweight) with eighth-round knockout of Thai fighter.
10. Marco Antonio Barrera II (2007, Las Vegas): Thoroughly dominated a still-solid, but declining superstar.

Michael Rosenthal can be reached at [email protected]



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